Holland's Edgar Alvarez is The Sentinel’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Friday

Dec 13, 2013 at 8:01 AM

By Michael.Appelgate@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4271

When Edgar Alvarez was younger, he used to watch Brazilian soccer greats like Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, and then try and imitate what they did on the field.The key word is that he “tried.” Alvarez admitted he couldn’t replicate exactly what possibly two of the greatest strikers in soccer history did on the field, but he did get to use some of those moves on the field this season.Alvarez led his Holland boys soccer team to the programs first No. 1 ranking, and then to a district title. The senior scored 26 goals this season and has 50 for his career with the Dutch. For his consistency on the pitch, Alvarez is The Sentinel’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year.He headlines a 13-member first-team that includes three of his Holland teammates: Kiernan McKay and Jesus Corona along with goalkeeper Christian Brink. Others on the first-team include Hamilton’s Elijah Walker and Aaron Smit, Holland Christian’s Marcus Hoekstra and Rilee Bouwkamp, Zeeland East’s Nicco Capotosto and Trey Pearce, West Ottawa's Braxton West, Saugatuck's Noah Brooks and Holland Calvary's Colin Baron.Since Alvarez was called up to Holland’s varsity team late in his freshman season, he’s been a threat to score.“Edgar is a dangerous player and has been our scorer for the last three years,” Dutch coach Greg Ceithaml said. “He handles the ball very well and finished consistently.”His skills were in development since he started playing when he was 8 years old. He was born and raised in Walla Walla, Wash., and his family moved to the Holland area when he was 10, looking for better work.Alvarez didn’t know much English, but his skills on the soccer field were well beyond others his age.“I wasn’t playing in my age group,“ he said. “When I was young, I was a little chubby. I wasn’t the fastest guy on my team, but I was the youngest.”He played on the Ole Soccer Club out of Grand Rapids in middle school, and then later played on the Alliance Soccer Club with a few of his Holland teammates.“We’ve been out playing together since eighth grade, and we know each other really well,” Alvarez said. “That’s why we have good chemistry. That helped a lot.”In his sophomore year, the team went through its growing pains, said Alvarez. But in his junior year, Holland jumped to a 16-3-2 record and won the OK Green conference title.The biggest difference through Alvarez’ high school years, he said, was constant improvement in conditioning and building his speed.“I’m not the tallest or strongest soccer player, but I’m really tough mentally,” Alvarez said. “I know the game inside and out.”This past fall, Alvarez consistently beat opposing defenses and found himself either one-on-one with the goalkeeper, or with one defender to beat.That’s where his individual skills came in to play.“Taking players one-on-one is my favorite,” Alvarez said. “Ever since I was little I used to watch my uncles play and they inspired me to play and my dad taught me how to play.”His speed and ball skills gave him the chance to score, but his finishing skills were also second to none in the area.“I don’t have a big leg, but when I shoot the ball I shoot pretty hard,” Alvarez said. “That’s all technique and where to hit the ball, and that takes practice.”Alvarez has hopes of playing at Aquinas College next year. He went to a recruiting camp last month, and Aquinas coaches said they would keep in touch with him.Despite his scoring prowess, Alvarez said there are still areas in his game to improve.“My left foot is pretty weak,” he said. “But I made more goals this season with my left foot than I ever had in any other season, so I’m making progress.”